Islamorada Fishing Calendar Pick your month, pick your fish

Winter (December to February, with sails into April) belongs to the edge: you watch sailfish tail down the reef after cold fronts and smoker kingfish crash live baits on cool, comfortable days offshore. Of all the Islamorada fishing seasons, this is the classic one that fills the docks.

Spring into summer belongs to the mahi. They push through on the weed lines from April, build to a June peak, and the spring spawn brings the famous mutton snapper bite. On flat summer mornings you can run far and still ride comfortable.

Year-round: blackfin tuna on the humps and swordfish in the deep. Whatever month you pick, the humps hold tuna, the overnight swordfish trip runs whenever the weather opens a window, and yellowtail snapper hold on the reef.

Evenings bring the big animals out. On the 5 pm shark trip you hook bull sharks and blacktips, and every one is released at the boat.

So when should you come?

Tell a captain your month and you will hear the hunt. With four boats and a year-round calendar, there is a right trip for your dates.